Braiding machine



Patented May 16,Y 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAIDING MACHINEApplication September 23, 1937, Serial No. 165,285

2 Claims.

This invention relates to braiding machines and more particularly to animproved arrangement of driving mechanism for driving the braider,whereby power is transmitted to the horn gears through the intermediacyof a novel system of gearing adapted for actuating the braider mechanismwith greater uniformity and consistency than has beenv the practiceheretofore.

One object of the invention is the provision -1 of simplified means fordriving the braider mechanism through which there is obtained a moreconstant and uniform driving effect upon the horn gears and a quiet-erand more eiiicient 0peration.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a driving means ofthe character described whereby constant and substantially uniformcontact is obtained between the gear surfaces at all times toeliminatebacklash and' obtain a more effective and quieter drive.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means of thischaracter adapted to furnish a relatively silent drive with constantengagement of the gears substantially throughout their engaging extents,together with the elimination of idler gears and their shafts, to effecta saving of power and produce more constant and uniform operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various novelcombinations and arrangements of the parts, as well as certain improvedfeatures of construction in the elements themselves, as will be morelfully set forth in the-1 detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a braiding machine of thetype in which the top plate is in the-form of an annulus and providedwith the usual grooves for guiding the bobbin carriers, showing thedrive shaft and connections for driving the horn gears therefrom,

Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view through the driving connection shownin Fig. 1, taken sub-'- stantially along the line 2--2V of Fig. l, andshowing the driving connection between the drive shaft andtwo of thehorn gears,

Fig. 3 is a'detail vertical sectional View showing one form of drivingmeans adapted for use in connection with a braiding machine of thistypethrough crown gears carried by a driveshaft and located for engagementwith the horn gears outwardly of the annular plates,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a portion o-f a different type ofbraiding machine in which the top plate may be` of substantiallycircular shape instead vof in the form of an annulus as shown. in

Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevational view of a segment of a crown gearsuch as may beeinployed in transmitting power from the drive shaft tothe braider mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a top planview of a spur gear and crown gear of the typeemployed, illustrating the location and arrangement of their contactingsurfaces when in position for transmitting power from the spur gear tothe crown gear, and,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line'l-'l of Fig. 4 and i1- lustrating the location of the operatingmechanism shown in that figure for transmitting power to the braidermechanism.

In the operation of braiding machines wherein bobbin carriersl aredriven in opposite directions along circuitous paths upon a top platewhich forms a table for supporting the carriers there is employedl asystem of hornV gearsv which may be arranged in a substantially circularor curved path betweenh parallel supporting plates. Adjacent horn gearsof such a structure intermesh with each other to impart a substantiallyconstant movement to the bobbin carriers along the circuitous path orpaths which they are'constrained toy follow.

Heretofore power has beenl applied to one or more of the horn gears froma drive shaft, through the intermediacy ofa system of spur and bevelgears, and transmitted to the other horn gears of the system throughtheir intermeshing relation. As the horn gears are locatedV in asubstantially horizontal plane it has been the practice to employ bevelgears in order to trans'- mit power from the usual horizontal shaftingfor application tothe gear faces of the horn gears through theintermediacy of other spur gears. The use of such bevel gears togetherwith the interposed spur gearsvfor driving the horn gears involves theuse of a considerable number ofl gear members and requires numerousbearings, all of which serves to consume power in excess of what wouldotherwise be required; as well as to increasethe number'of moving "partsand the noise of operation. In the usual sys'- tems of gearing as nowemployed in such mechanism there is a certain amount of play between theengaging surfaces which causes unnecessary noise in operation aswell assuch playbetween the gear surfaces as results in a certainv amount ofbacklash between the gears.

The present construction b'yeliminating the use of intermeshing bevelgears,` aswell as the bearings and supports therefor, and by providingrotated. A shift lever 24 is suitably located with not only for theapplication of power directly or substantially directly to the horngears, but for its application in such a manner as to provide constantlyengaging contacts between the surfaces of the drive gear and driven gearserves to accomplish a substantial saving of power and at the same timeeffect greater smoothness and quietness in the operation of themechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of thedrawings, I designates generally a braiding machine of the typeemploying vertically spaced annular plates for supporting the horngears, and 2 and 3 indicate the top and bottom plate membersrespectively of the machine. The annular plate members 2 and 3 havesupported therebetween a plurality of intermeshing spur gears 4in theform of a train, the axes of which gears may be located along aSubstantially circular path, as shown in Fig. 1.

The gears 4 are each provided with horns 5 for moving bobbin carriermembers along circuitous paths or grooves 6 formed in the top plate 2.More specifically, the grooves E are defined by the spaced edges ofcurvilinear plates 'I positioned within and spaced from the side edgesof curvilinear openings formed in the top plate 2. Bolts 8 extendupwardly through the bottom plate 3 and are each provided with a bushing9 which serves as a spacing means between the bottom plate 3 and one ofthe curvilinear plates 'I which is seated upon the bushing 9 and securedin position relative to the top plate by means of a nut I I. Each of thespur gears 4 is rotatably mounted upon one of the ushings 9 and mesheswith adjacent spur gears upon opposite sides thereof. The spur gears 4are each provided with horns 5 for engaging portions of bobbin carriermembers extending downwardly through the circuitous paths 5 for movingthe bobbin carrier members in opposite direction and inwardly andoutwardly radially of the top plate along the circuitous paths 6 duringthe braiding operation, as is well known in the art.

In this form of the invention there may be provided a drive shaft I4having a pulley I5 rotatably mounted on the shaft and having lateralears I6 projecting outwardly from one side face thereof. Acircumferentially slotted disk Il is secured to the shaft upon that sideof the pulley I5 from which the lateral ears I6 extend. A clutch memberI8 may be loosely mounted on the shaft I4 and is slidable longitudinallythereof. The clutch member I8 is provided with lateral arms I9 adaptedto project through the slots formed in the disk II so as to be movableinto operative engagement with the ears I6 carried by the pulley I5 fordriving the shaft I4 upon movement of the clutch member I8longitudinally of the shaft I4 and towards the pulley I5. The clutchmember I8 may be provided with a reduced portion having a circulargroove 29 engageable by suitable shift mechanism for moving the clutchmember into or out of clutching engagement with the pulley I5 throughthe interconnection of the lateral arms I9 with the ears I5 carried bythe pulley I5.

A shift mechanism is provided for moving the clutch member I8 into andout of clutching engagement with the pulley I5 comprising a shaft 22rotatably supported from the frame and having oppositely positioned jaws23 engageable with the groove 20 of the clutch member I8 for sliding thesame on the shaft I4 when the shaft 22 is relation to any desired formof throw-off mechanism for actuating the shaft 22 after a manner wellknown in the art. Crown gears 26 and 21 are carried by the shaft I4 andlocated adjacent to opposite ends thereof in suitable position formeshing engagement with oppositely located spur gears 4 of the series.The shaft I4 is rotatably mounted in bearings 28, which may be supportedby portions 29 of the lower plate 3. The crown gears 26 and 2'I are eachfixed to the shaft I4 and serve to drive the oppositely positioned spurgears 4 with which they are in mesh for imparting rotation to the trainof horn gears.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings there is shown a shaft I4, similar in allrespects to the shaft I4 previously described, and adapted for use inconnection with a braiding machine of the type shown in Figs. l and 2,for driving the horn gears from outwardly of the annular plates 2 and 3instead of interiorly of these plates as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thisshaft is adapted to be provided with a driving pulley, clutch membersand shift mechanism similar in all respects to that shown in Fig. l ofthe drawings. In this form of the invention the shaft I4 is mounted inbearings 32 carried by an outwardly extending portion of the lower platemember 3, and a crown gear 33, of a type similar to the gears 26 and2'I, is secured to the shaft I4 outwardly of the lower plate member 3and mounted for meshing engagement with one of the spur gears 4.

It is to be understood that in that form of the invention shown in Fig.3 of the drawings, the drive shaft I4 is adapted to extend across thespace located between the annular plates and be mounted in similarbearings 32 at opposite ends thereof and have similar gears 33 carriedthereby for meshing engagement with two opposed horn gears after themanner of the structure shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In the forms of the invention Shown in Figs` 1 to 3 of the drawings itis to be understood that the shaft I4 may in each case be offsetsomewhat from the center of the annular plates so as to be located inoffset relation with a diameter of the circular plates and provide spacefor receiving the formed material centrally of the annulus defined bythe plate members.

In each form of the structure above shown and described the drive pulleyI5 may be driven from any suitable source of power to rotate the lateralears I6 carried by or formed integral with the pulley I5. 'I'he clutchmember I8 upon the shaft I4 is capable of being moved longitudinally ofthe shaft by means of the shift mechanism carried by the shaft 22 andengageable with the groove 20 of the clutch member I8. In this way thecrown gears 25 and 21, as shown in Fig. 2, or the crown gears 33 of thestructure shown in Fig, 3, may or may not be driven from the drivepulley I5 dependent upon the position of the clutch member I8, either tooperate the braiding mechanism or permit it to remain idle.

In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings 36designates the top plate of a braiding machine known as a small typebraider, and 3'I the lower plate. A plurality of horn gears 38 arepositioned between the plates 36 and 31 and arranged in a curved path,each of the horn gears being provided with horns 39 for moving threadcarriers 40 along the circuitous paths indicated by the grooves 42formed in the top plate. A drive pulley 43 may be romisere-eiatabiysusporteby ssnfr 44? earned 5y tf1-cast:

in'g" 45 forming' a' portion dfV th"e"niafchine fram l or" supported inany other= suiir'iblel manner' to prv'ideja' mountingforthe"p1`1l1ey43.I A' crofv'n gear 46`isfo'rmed integral with' thedrive pulley 43 or rotated thereby'in anyll suitableA manner to drivethe" braider mechanism:

In" the present `embodiment of the invention the crown gear 46 mesheswith anddrivesja' spurY gear 41. rotatably mounted upon' theiverticalshaft 48', the spur gear 41 being provided with aclut'ch"` face" 50 fora" purpose which' will be riiorelfully described. A second spur gearVis' keyed' or' otherwise secured to the vertical shaft 48 for rotationwith the shaft and meshes with one of the horn gears 38 of the system ofhorn gears to drive the braider mechanism. A clutch member 52 isslidably mounted upon the shaft 48 for rotation therewith, as by beingsplined thereto, and has a clutch face 54 engageable with the clutchface 50 of the spur gear 41 for rotating the shaft 48 and the gear 5Icarried thereby when the clutch faces 54 and 50 are engaged.

A shift lever 58 of any suitable character is carried by or pivotallysupported by the machine frame and is actuable to engage or disengagethe clutch faces 54 and 56, by raising or lowering the clutch member 52.The shift lever 58 is provided with a latch 55 adapted to hold the leverin position for maintaining the clutch faces in engagement with eachother during the operation of the braider mechanism.

Suitable automatic stop motion mechanism, indicated generally byreference characters 56 and 51, and which may be of the characterdisclosed in U. S. Patent to Littlefield, No. 1,930,245, dated Oct. 10,1933, may be employed if desired for disconnecting the clutch faces 54and 50, by releasing the clutch lever 58, upon breakage of a thread.

The several horn gears 38 being in intermeshing engagement with eachother are operated throughout when the horn gear 38, shown in Fig. 7, isdriven by the spur gear 5I. The spur gear 41 is constantly driven by thecrown gear 46 upon rotation of the pulley 43, and when the clutch member52 is in its raised position, as shown in' Fig. 7, the clutch faces 56and 54 are engaged, and the shaft 48 and gear 5| carried thereby arerotated to drive the horn gears 38.

An upright standard 60 may be carried by the lower plate 31 of thebraider or other suitable portion of the machine frame for supporting areel or other means for receiving the formed fabric from the braidermechanism. c

The crown gears 26, 21 and 33 previously described, as well as the crowngear 46, may each be provided with a plurality of teeth 62, each ofwhich has a widened portion 63 which may be located inwardly of itsradial extent and which is of a width substantially equal to the spaceseparating the teeth of the spur gear with which it is intended to mesh.Each tooth 62 may be suitably reduced in thickness outwardly radially ofits extent from the widened portion 63, The reduction in width beingaccomplished to form oppositely positioned inclined surfaces 64 on eachside of the tooth, and the narrowing of the teeth being carried to suchan extent as to materially reduce the heighth of each tooth at a pointsomewhat distant from the widened portion, as indicated at 65. Theposition of each crown gear tooth relative to one of the spur gear teethduring the period of contact is sub- .'iec`: `tp tb constant variation"from anextreme angiilarposition'`l tor` directly opposed engagementandfroinjthere to a'position of extreme angularlty. The'provision ofmeansjsuch as the widened portions'63?and` narrowed portions 65 havingintermediate curved surfaces 64 insure a constant' driving contactbetween the teeth of the crown gear and tho'seof the spur gear whichwill-ib substantially uniformly effective in all angular pos'itionsofthe gear teeth.

Asslowri more'particularly in Fig. 6 of the drawings, thet'eetli166 oftheY spur gear are each first" engaged" by one of the curved surfacesy64 ofa' crown gear tooth 62', as shownv at the right in Fig. 6. Thetooth 66 slides over this curved surface 64 of the crown gear tooth 62as the teeth continue towards full engagement after the manner indicatedfrom right to left of Fig. 6. As each spur gear too-th 66 moves intomore complete meshing engagement with the teeth 62 of the crown gear itslides further along the curved surface 64, until when the tooth 62 ofthe crown gear is fully engaged the widened portion 63 thereof isbrought into position between two adjacent spur gear teeth 66 so as tosubstantially ll the space therebetween. As the gears rotate further theteeth move into disengaging position, during which movement the curvedor inclined surfaces 64 continue to slide over the faces of the teeth 66so as to obtain constant contact between the surfaces of the teeth 62and the side faces of the spur gear teeth 66 and provide substantiallyconstant contact of the driving surface throughout their engagement.

In driving a mechanism of this character which consists of a train ofintermeshing gear members mutually engageable for operation, and inwhich driving force is applied to one or two gears of the system andcommunicated to the others through the mutual interconnection of thegears themselves it is desirable to provide constantly effective drivingengagement between the driving gears and the driven gears of the systemwhich are directly actuated by the driving gears.

This tends to eliminate wear upon the faces of the gear teeth as well asbacklash and results in a more uniform and constantly effective drivingaction as well as greater uniformity in the distribution of the drivingforce throughout the train, particularly in cases where the drivingimpulse is applied simultaneously to two or more of the members makingup the gear train or system.

In the use of bevel gears for the purpose of driving mechanisms of thischaracter, as employed heretofore, such gearing requires additionalbearing supports and the increased number of gear members results inmore o-r less play bringing about considerable wear upon the surfaces ofthe teeth and a corresponding lack of consistent and uniform drivingforce as applied to members of the train.

By employing a system of gearing in which the teeth of the driving gearsare so constructed as to be in substantially constant effectiveengagement with the teeth of the driven gears making up the the systemof gears, these disadvantages above named are substantially overcome anda drive is provided which requires a considerably less expenditure ofpower and which gives more uniform operation of the mechanism withconsequently greatly decreased noise of operation.

What I claim is:

1. In a braiding machine having a plurality of horn .gears arranged inintermeshing relation with each other and each provided with spur teeth,driving means for one of said horn gears comprising intermeshing spurand crown gears, said crown gear being provided with teeth diminishingin height outwardly radially thereof and having inclined side facesextending outwardly from its point of maximum height, said crown gearbeing located in constantly intermeshing relation with the teeth of saidspur lgear and having the inclined side faces of its radial teeth insubstantial contact with the teeth of said spur gear throughout theircommon path of travel.

2. In a braiding machine of the character described, a plurality of horngears mounted in intermeshing relation with each other for drivingbobbin carrier members, and means for driving said horn gears comprisinga spur gear and a crown gear mounted in intermeshing relation, the teethof said crown gear being each of gradually diminishing height andthickness outwardly radially of said gear to provide substantiallyconstantly engaging outwardly and transversely inclined surfaces ofcontact between the teeth of said spur gear and the teeth of said crowngear throughout their intermeshing relation regardless of the degree ofangularity between said teeth. JOHN G. ALDRICH.

